Chapter 47:
I silently work on my drawing, trying hard to remember. What I want is something that I can run and fight in, I don't care if it looks like an actual foot or not. I adjust the way that I'm sitting, I sigh out of frustration as I almost topple out of the bed.
I hate this. I hate this so much.
In a way it is my own fault though, that I'm in this situation. I could have quit the chunin exams as soon as my right leg was hurt, in fact, I could have just not done it in the first place. But I was just so impatient to prove myself and move higher in the ranks.
Luckily before my surgery Danzo showed up and assured that we would find a way to keep me a shinobi. In fact, he said that this could possibly make me stronger.
I jump when I sense somebody walk in, my first visitor after the surgery huh? I wonder who it is, "you know Erin, you should really be resting right now." I sigh and close my sketchbook.
"Kakashi-sensei," I greet calmly as I look up at him. He looks completely calm like me on the surface, but I can sense that he's nervous by his chakra. "Don't worry, the chances that I'm going to be possessed by a monster spirit and destroy the entire hospital are pretty low right now." Kakashi stiffens for a second, probably shocked that I guessed his exact thoughts.
"Erin...I'm sorry." I nod in acknowledgment, Kakashi didn't visit me before my surgery. It was probably because he thought that he could set me off.
"It's fine, both of us overestimated my abilities and control." I state flatly, "the important thing now is that I pick myself up and move on. Who am I supposed to fight for the last round?"
Kakashi gives me a shocked look, "you're supposed to fight one of the Kirigakure genin, his name is Haku. Erin, you can't possibly be planning on-"
"I am." I open my sketchbook and hold up my rough draft, Kakashi takes a couple of steps closer and eyes my drawing critically.
"I've never seen a design like this before...typically the prosthetics are made to look like a foot." He observes and I nod.
"That's because the prosthetics made so far aren't meant for shinobi even though they tend to lose limbs more often." When I think about it it really doesn't make sense.
"What if you got something from Sunagakure?" I frown for a second, the Hidden Sand Village is definitely an option. Their expertise is puppets so making prosthetic limbs would probably be child's play. "Hmm, but then it would cost a ridiculous amount of money, also Sunagakure and Konohagakure aren't on the best terms at the moment…" Kakashi thinks out loud, I sigh and nod. Well, Suna is planning on helping Orochimaru attack Konoha, but then I'm the only one who knows that.
I'll have to make sure that Gaara doesn't manage to transform into the Shukaku in the middle of Konoha. Wait, Gaara…
"Sensei, how's Lee?" Right now Lee should be in the hospital because of his loss against Gaara in the preliminaries.
"Lee? He lost but he should be fine, why do you ask?" He's fine…? Things didn't follow the original plot, he must have fought somebody else.
"I...was just worried since he can't do any ninjutsu or genjutsu. Who did he fight?" I lie smoothly, wow, no wonder most people don't trust me.
"The one named Gaara," I almost gape, what happened? In the anime Gaara almost kills Lee, something must have changed.
Ideas fly through my head, is Lee stronger now than he was in the anime? Is Gaara weaker? Did somebody intervene before anything too bad could happen? Is Gaara's mental state better…?
I notice Kakashi giving me a weird look and shrug. "I was just surprised, based on Gaara's chakra I didn't expect Lee to get out of that fight so easily." Lies lies lies.
Kakashi narrows his showing eye, "how so?" I stiffen, nerves well up from my chest.
"H-His chakra has a kind of foreboding feel to it, I can sense that he's emotionally unstable. Plus...I can sense a killing intent behind it, like something is ready to pounce at the smallest chance." Half truth, I spot Kakashi's eye softening. His chakra shows a strange emotion though, he's worried about something.
"Well, if you want to be battle ready for the last round of the chunin exams you have a month. You'll need to learn how to walk and fight with prosthetics, also...you should try to get your chakra under control." I stiffen at the thought of my chakra...at some point I want to try to make contact with the voice that I heard before I killed Misumi. "I have somebody who can help train you."
Shit shit shit shit shit, Danzo said that once I learn how to walk he'll send me on a training trip.
I have to think fast, what excuse can I use? My mind draws a blank, how the actual hell do I get out of this situation?
"I'm sorry Sensei, it's just that I already have somebody-"
"I know." This time I actually do gape, how? How did he find out!? "We were already suspicious so during the surgery Hokage-sama ordered for the doctors to check for the ROOT seal."
He sounds so...disappointed, distrusting, probably disgusted. He'll never believe a word that I say again, I bet that he doesn't even want me in his team anymore.
I feel myself being engulfed by panic, oh god what do I do!? I'd bet he's wondering exactly how many times I've lied to him, if he can trust anything that I say.
But he's also right to think that way.
The man lets out a sigh and brushes his hair back. "Erin, I'm warning you now that signing up for the training that the foundation has to offer is basically signing up for a living hell. Trust me, I know what it's like. You feel like you're completely alone in this world and that most people are out to get you. So you decided to make yourself so strong physically and mentally that you're practically untouchable. And when people actually do manage to reach you, you aren't afraid to push them away. Or even tear them down. I was like you when I was your age, I was scared of getting close to people because it felt like all of the people who trusted me would either get hurt or killed." I stare at him in shock, why the hell is he sharing this with me of all people? I'm selfish, I'm terrible at feeling empathy for others, why should he try to feel empathy for me? I don't deserve any of this attention, I think that even Sasuke would be able to do better with this speech than I am.
'He can use it against you.' I stiffen, the voice is back. 'If a person manages to get to somebody emotionally they can do whatever they want with them. It's almost like a puppet master.' The voice is dark, it has a bit of a rough tone, it's feminine.
"Sensei I…" I desperately try to continue the conversation despite my distraction. I don't even know the words I say after that because I'm focussing on the voice in my head, it's like my body goes on autopilot.
"Just...think about what I said." Before I know it Kakashi's leaving my hospital room.
'Finally he's gone. I've been wanting to have a little chat with you for awhile.' I listen to the voice, 'if you want to see me you have to get into a state in between sleep and consciousness at least. I'll wait for you.' With that my mind becomes dead silent and I stare at a wall blankly. Well now what?
I should try to reach that state. I lay down and close my eyes, and focus entirely on the quietness of my room. I imagine the quietness slowly spreading and drowning out my thoughts.
When I was younger I struggled with falling asleep, my mind was constantly working and racing and would never take a break. I eventually managed to teach myself how to clear my mind to the point where I could sleep through yelling, screaming, and banging on my door.
Of course now I'm more of a light sleeper but I don't have any trouble falling asleep.
My mind finally completely clears and I allow myself to fall into darkness.
~0~
I look around the dark area of my mindscape expectantly. This is interesting, so far I've only been able to reach this place from unnatural ways such as almost being choked to death and people entering my mind.
"I helped you get here," suddenly I can see everything around me. The previous pure blackness has been replaced by a dim green-yellow lighting, there isn't very much to see though, all that I can see is a cement floor in all directions until it eventually fades into shadow. I turn around, searching for the owner of the voice. "I'm over here."
I turn around again, and suddenly I'm face to face with a monster. I shriek in surprise and trip as I try to run backwards, I land on the ground and furiously try to crawl away.
There's nothing to separate us, she could kill me if she wanted to.
"Tch, calm down brat. I can't reach you, see?" It raises an enormous claw and taps on an invisible barrier, "if I could, you would be long dead." The thing bares its sharp teeth.
"W-What are you…?" I realize that my voice is shaking. The thing looks like it's basically made of shadow, it has glowing silver eyes with slitted pupils. It's eyes remind me of Orochimaru, those are basically all that I can see.
It suddenly steps into the dim lighting and cranes it's long neck. It's…a dragon, a pitch black dragon. "My name is Dáku, and I am what your necklace carries." She rumbles. Dáku huh? It's a fitting name, it literally means "dark".
She's pacing around me, or at least the barrier that separates us. It's menacing but it's giving me the chance to get a full view of her. Every single part of Dáku is black other than her eyes and teeth. She has two large horns coming out of just above her eyes and above her ears. She has enormous wings accompanied with a slim and nimble body. She has a ridiculously long tail, probably twice the length of her body. To add to that she has sharp looking spikes that line her spine, and large claws.
Without her wings she's about as tall as a four story building.
"Have you been in my necklace...for this whole time?" I ask and the beast stops to glare down at me.
"I AM the necklace, brat. And it doesn't belong to you, I simply just chose you to hold onto it." I can't help but shiver at her words, for an entire year I've just been carrying her around on my neck. A huge dragon that could probably destroy all of Konoha if you caught it in a bad mood.
"Why didn't you say anything before now? And why did you "choose" me?"
Dáku sighs and sits down, I feel the ground shake underneath me as she does so. "I was exhausted after traveling to your world and back, so I was sleeping. I chose you because you should be easy to manipulate." I feel myself bristle at those words but she simply smirks. "Plus you're interesting, you have quite a lot of hate inside of you. Almost as much as Kurama." I frown, who's Kurama? I feel like I should know them.
"The Kyuubi. That's who I'm talking about." Dáku elaborates, at this point I'm almost completely sure that she can read my mind.
"What do you mean by almost as much hatred as-uh-Kurama?" I try out the name, I guess that it makes sense that the nine tails should have a name. It's just that in the anime they never really mention it.
"Kurama hates humans with all of his mind and soul, you're the same way except it's with your parents." I stiffen at that, I am not in the mood to talk or think about my parents. "Even the mention of them got you riled up," Dáku chuckles, I don't like her. I don't like the fact that she knows more about me than I know about her...she probably knows a little more about me than myself.
"Anyways Erin, I have some business that I wish to speak to you about." Dáku narrows her eyes and she lays down so she's at my level. "In the end, my goal is to free myself from this seal."
"How so?" I ask with a frown.
"In order to free myself I have to take over your body." I stare at her in shock, that is incredibly upfront. "I bet that you're wondering why I'd ever tell you this and here's my answer; I enjoy the challenge."
She bares her teeth and I feel fear grip me, how the hell am I supposed to protect myself from her? Based on my experience so far, her ability to take over is entirely reliant on my mental state. Especially anger.
"Anyways, in the meantime as I slowly but surely take over, there are times that I might be willing to help you with things."
"Like what? And why would you ever help me?" I feel like I'm somehow making deals with the devil herself. I can sense a completely bloodthirsty aura coming off of her. Is this what my chakra feels like to other sensory types?
"I can give you information, ideas in training. I'm even willing to give you some power, just so long as what you're doing is something that I agree with. If I don't agree with it but I help you out...it will cost you a favour." She pauses and smirks, "as for the reason...it's awfully boring in here."
I nod as my mind races with ideas. "Well, that's all that I have to say to you for now. With practice we'll probably be able to have full conversations while you're completely conscious." Dáku rises back up, I close my eyes to leave but I freeze as I remember something.
"From now on don't take over my body just to finish off people!" I snarl up at the dark dragon.
"Hn, you think that you can tell me what to do? And besides, killing him allowed you to advance didn't it? I was trying to help you," she grunts as she turns around.
"No, you were trying to traumatize me so you could get a further grip on my mind!" I call back but she's already disappeared into the darkness.
~0~
"Go Erin! You can do it!"
"Go Erin-sensei!"
I adjust the grip on my crutches and push forward, Lee, Sakura, and Midori cheer on the sidelines.
'Go Erin-sensei!' Dáku cheers in a mocking tone before bursting into laughter.
"Shut up," I hiss under my breath, luckily the other humans don't hear it.
I finally got my first pair of prosthetics and I'm healed enough to start walking. All within a week, the shinobi world is pretty impressive.
My prosthetics look incredibly similar to what blade runners use, and for some reason they make me look incredibly menacing. I'm also pretty sure that they're spring loaded. Dáku said that she likes them but what's her opinion worth?
'I heard that,' I let out a sigh and push on, I hate that now I'm never alone. It feels like I have to be careful even with what I think, 'don't worry, I'm pretty sure that I know every single aspect of your personality.'
I sigh again, "I want to try walking without the crutches." I hear cheering from my peers but the only thing that I can think about is how much I want to get rid of Dáku. I didn't sign up to have a thing that calls herself an incarnation of evil in the back of my mind. No, I did not sign up for this shit.
'Wow, watch your language.'
"I said shut up!" I whisper as I carefully put my crutches down.
'Make me,' Dáku scoffs and I can imagine her smirk. Why can't she be like Kurama? I'm pretty sure that he's usually silent in Naruto's mind unless spoken to or something like that.
I sigh and decide to ignore whatever she says. I stand up straight and take a step, I'm actually surprised at how easy it is to walk in these prosthetics.
I remember once when I was little a circus camp showed up at our school and taught us how to use the things for their performances. They tried to get everyone to try everything so I officially know how to juggle, the basics of riding a tricycle, and how to walk across a metal tightrope. But what I'm using with these prosthetics now is stilts, stilts were basically the easiest things to use as long as you weren't scared of heights and you had decent balance. So basically all that I have to do now is imagine that I'm wearing more advanced stilts.
Before I've realized it I've walked all of the way across the hospital room, "yay, Erin-sensei!" Midori cheers and all of a sudden I'm falling. She freaking decided to tackle me at full speed to give me a hug.
"Midori no!" Sakura shrieks but I manage to grab the window sill, but the bad thing is that the momentum keeps me falling forward, and my face smashes into the wall.
Midori immediately lets go and I pull myself back up. "I think I'm fine," I state as I regain my balance, but suddenly feel a hot liquid running out of my nose. I lift a hand up and lightly touch my face before looking at it. "Oh," scarlet blood drips off of my fingers.
Everyone starts panicking while Dáku cackles at the back of my mind, I find the situation kind of funny too.
But suddenly it feels like a switch is flipped in my mind.
I lift my other hand and take a seat on my hospital bed.
One hand perfectly clean, while the other soaked in blood. Disgusting, hot, blood.
Images of a horrified man's face fill my mind, his shocked eyes looked like they were piercing right into my soul as I plunged my hand right through his heart.
A wave of nausea rushes through me and I barely manage to bite back a strangled sob. I cover my mouth with my clean hand but I feel more blood pouring all over it.
More blood. There's blood everywhere.
The man didn't need to die, no blood needed to be spilled. I feel tears well up and escape from my eyes.
I'm filthy, both physically and as a human being. There's blood all over my hands.
I'm garbage, I'm not worthy of any attention, nobody should be near me, I'm a murderer.
"Erin-?" I jump at a hand landing on my shoulder, it's Lee.
"G-Get away!" I barely manage to gasp, stay away from me, or else I'll end up ruining your humanity! I push him away with all of my strength, and I run.
I stumble as I dodge Sakura and Midori, I stop in front of the door. Everything's closing in I need to get out, I feel like I can't breath in this place.
Sakura says something as she pushes Midori behind her, she reaches out a hand. I immediately recoil and dash out of the room.
Tears flow out of my eyes and blood floods out of my nose as I run, I'm desperate to get out. I trip and I fall but I immediately get up although I leave a smear of blood on the white floor tiles.
People stare in bewilderment as I dash past, constantly tripping and almost falling. Suddenly I skid to a stop, there are people in my way.
A few shinobi, some nurses and doctors as well. "Erin," one of them takes a step forward, that's...Minami! "Calm down, we get it. You're stressed, none of us can even imagine what you're going through right now-"
"Shut up!" I sob...I feel something burning spreading throughout my body.
"Erin...you recognize me don't you? It's me, Minami-I'm your friend!"
"Friend? You only stay around me because you pity me! And you're supposed to pretend to be friendly with me so the Hokage can keep an eye on me from a distance!" The burning is spreading into my head.
Minami freezes, with a look of pure shock on her face. "H-How did you know that!?" I almost laugh, isn't that obvious?
"Why else would you stick around for so long!? If you were just my "friend" you would have probably ditched me within two weeks!" I've been rejected by hundreds of people, by my own parents in fact. Nobody can stand a person like me...especially now that I'm a murderer.
Suddenly...I recognize tears in Minami's eyes. "Have you...really thought that for a whole year? But what about all of your other friends!?"
"Naruto feels that since I'm one of the first people to defend him he has no choice but to stick around me! Sakura still secretly hates me, she just has to act more professional since we're on the same team! Lee feels bad for me so he stays around! You see!? Even Iruka-sensei doesn't trust me, he doesn't think that I should be a shinobi!"
Ugly truths are pouring out and it feels like I can't stop, things that have been at the back of my mind for months are finally coming to the surface.
"Goddamnit Minami! Haven't you already guessed it!? The only reason why I reached out to you was wasn't because I was hoping for a companion, it was because I wanted you to teach me Japanese! Have you ever noticed how I barely ever approach you? You're allowed to leave! You don't have to be trapped by me! How many people hate you just because you're "friends" with an outsider, huh!? Almost everyone in this village hates me! It would be so much easier just to lose me than feel isolated!"
I'm speaking so quickly that I can barely register what I'm saying. Suddenly I feel the mix of blood and tears on my face dissipate into steam as black whisps dance across my skin. Now Minami is definitely crying, I don't know why though. She finally has the chance to get rid of me.
"So you've been keeping yourself distant just because you think that everyone's going to leave you?" Everyone other than Minami is slowly moving away.
I scoff, "there's only one person who I know would never leave me, the only one who I care about. And I'll…" I trail off and I feel more tears escaping from my eyes, but they immediately turn into steam. "I'll never see him again!" I feel my hair raising off of my shoulders and I suddenly realize that my entire body has been engulfed by the black whisps.
And my mind suddenly goes black.
~0~
*Dáku's POV*
I hiss in delight as Erin finally breaks down, I have been waiting for this chance for an entire year. I push my chakra to seep through the weakening seal, the girl doesn't even notice as I slowly take over her mind.
"Finally...I can be free!" I snarl, and suddenly I'm seeing everything from Erin's eyes. Erin's body immediately drops onto all fours at my command, I'm poor at controlling bodies while they're on their hind legs.
I lick my lips and scan the room, doctors, nurses, and shinobi. This should be easy.
I force Erin's body to take a deep breath, I use my chakra to compress the air in her lungs. I form several hand seals and immediately hear people screaming and panicking. "Wind Style;...Sonic Scream!" Glass shatters, concrete breaks, people are sent flying. Doctors, nurses, shinobi, patients, children, my jutsu doesn't discriminate.
I stalk my way out of the hospital, "Erin stop! Please get control over yourself!" A voice wails and I glance over my shoulder. Sakura, like every other pathetic human she's crying and bagging instead of taking action.
I allow killing intent to flood out of Erin's body, the girl freezes as I utter the words. "I'm not Erin."
Black scales begin to blossom from the necklace that holds me, I let out a content sigh and look up. Finally. Finally after thousands of years I will be free, I will be able to breath in fresh air. To fly through the skies would be amazing.
But first I need to escape from this village.
I would love to fly out but it should take at least twenty minutes for my wings and tail to solidify. It should also take about a day for me to complete the transformation.
I spot several shinobi running in my direction before repeating my last jutsu, this sends Sakura flying back as well.
I begin bounding through Konoha, swerving to avoid the humans that are in my way. Finally I'm running up one of the enormous walls that separates Konohagakure from the rest of the world.
I might make it this time, all that I have to do is disappear into a cave somewhere to complete my transformation. Then I'll be free, nobody will be strong enough to seal me away again.
The black scales finally cover all of Erin's body and a skeleton is beginning to form just above the skin.
I reach the top and peer around. The village is clearly in a state of panic, there are shinobi everywhere. Luckily for them I don't plan on going on a rampage, I'm not like Kurama who will simply destroy humans because he hates them.
But I will be back, to free all of the tailed beasts.
"This is where you stop!" I turn and send several ANBU a glare, but I freeze. One of them has Senju Hashirama's chakra.
That one will be a problem, I zero in on my target. He's wearing a bear mask and he's standing in the centre of the group of five.
I look up at the sky, it's a hot day so this jutsu should work. "Fire Style; Majestic Destroyer Flame!" I take a deep breath, and blast them with flames. This is a jutsu that I learned from one of my many past partners, I have hundreds of jutsu in my arsenal just from experience. For example I can use all of the jutsu that Erin knows because she learned how to use it with my chakra. So I've memorized every single jutsu that people have performed using my chakra.
Once I'm sure that my enemies are sufficiently engulfed in flames, I continue in my escape from Konohagakure. I run down the wall and finally reach the forest. As soon as I enter the trees I notice branches starting to droop and the leaves turning grey.
My chakra kills most things but at the moment this is a very great disadvantage. I'm going to leave a trail.
"Wood Style; Four Pillar Prison Jutsu!" Wow, try saying that ten times as fast.
My train of thought is interrupted as I'm suddenly surrounded planks of wood, and I realize that I've been trapped inside of a wooden cage.
"Wind Style: Sonic Scream!" The strips of wood rattle and crack in their places but they don't move. I snarl and stalk to one of the cracks in between the planks. "So now are you going to do wood style user? I will find a way out unless you have some way of sealing me back into the necklace." Only dead silence follows my words, I sigh and twist so I can see out of the crack. I spot a leaf drifting by, an idea comes into my mind.
"Sealing art-"
"Too slow," I switch with the leaf. The ANBU whips around in surprise as I glare down at him from my perch. "Your skill is impressive, but I have thousands of years of experience. If you don't get in my way again I'll spare your life."
"I won't let you go any farther than this point!"
I narrow my eyes, "very well then. Prepare to die." I'll give him a fair chance, I won't use my chakra to tear apart his body and ultimately kill him.
Bones have completely formed around my body, my tail and wings are almost ready to be formed.
I launch off of the tree, ready for a full battle in taijutsu.
But, something blocks my line of attack.
"Nobody's going to die today! Do you want to know why!?" I launch backwards as the clearing is filled with smoke, Erin's lungs start to cough. "Because the legendary Sannin Jiraiya-sama has arrived!" The smoke clears and in front of me stands a toad about the size of an average car from Erin's world, on top of that toad stands an old man with a wild mane of white hair.
This man is stronger than the wood style user, I should be careful. For a moment I consider simply running but I know for a fact that this man will not let me just get away.
I'll fight then.
The second that I hit the summoning toad it disappears in a cloud of smoke, I draw in air for a jutsu to send at the Sannin.
"Oh no you don't!" My eyes widen as he runs at me with a very obvious seal in his hand.
I easily dodge, "that jutsu has been used against me before! It will never work again." I snarl at the memory of Senju Hashirama accompanied with his Uzumaki partner.
"Well...hey do you have any ideas on how to beat this thing!? I've never seen or heard of it before!" The man turns his attention to the wood style user.
"We're in the exact same predicament," the ANBU sighs.
"Don't you dare turn your back on me!" I launch at them, this time I will use my yang chakra to kill them, I won't show any mercy.
"Seal activate!" I immediately feel a fiery pain begin to spread throughout Erin's entire body, coming from...her tongue.
Somebody activated the foundation's seal. I land on the ground and suddenly collapse. I can't move…
I look up to see that a third person has joined the group standing in my way.
I try to stand but the seal feels like chakra wrapping around Erin's body and restraining me. I hiss angrily from my position on the ground.
The man who activated the seal kneels down to my level and takes off his mask...I recognize him as Erin's favourite sensei from the foundation. "You can't move so you may as well give up and retreat into Erin's necklace."
"It's not...Erin's damn necklace-it's mine!" I barely manage to choke out, Boar sighs and stands back up.
"I've handled the situation and we will be taking Erin into our custody, you two may take your leave now." His words aren't directed towards me anymore but at the Sannin and the wood style user.
"Wait-what do you mean "we"!?"
"He means the foundation." There's a solemn sound to the ANBU member as he elaborates for the Sannin, the older man's expression moves from confusion to anger.
"I thought that you guys were taken down after the Uchiha massacre! What the hell happened while I was gone!?" Boar doesn't say a word, I silently listen. This may be useful information for the future.
"Danzo convinced lord third that the foundation was important and useful for protecting the village."
The Sannin lets out a disgusted sigh and crosses his arms, "I'm going to argue with lord third and see what he can do. Oi! Shouldn't Erin's sensei get a say on where she trains for the final round of the chunin exams!?" He yells at Boar who takes in all of the smack talk with a peaceful smile.
"I am also Erin's sensei, and when I think about it...I've actually taught her more than Kakashi has." The Sannin bristles angrily, but I can't help but agree with Boar. He has indeed taught Erin a lot, along with the other mentors from the foundation. Kakashi can't even compete.
Oops, did I say that out loud?
"Watch your mouth when you're at the mercy of us."
"What are you going to do? Kill me? Doing that would also kill my jinchuuriki." The old man grits his teeth before marching off, I think that I have no choice but to take my leave as well. "You," I address Boar and he turns around.
"I will make you regret this. Someday I'm going to tear you apart limb from limb."
As the ANBU member disappears Boar puts his mask back on. "I wish you luck," he answers in a cheerful tone and I snarl.
I retreat back into my cage, swallowing my rage and accepting my temporary defeat.
~0~
*Erin's POV*
I crack my eyes open and slam them shut again at the blinding light. How many times have I been in this situation before?
I force my eyes to adjust to the light and look around. There aren't any windows in this room, the walls are padded and as I sit up I notice a seal spreading across the entire room's floor.
"You can't be serious," I mutter under my breath. "Dáku, what the hell did you do?" There is no answer.
"Dáku?" I ask worriedly, it isn't in her character to be quiet like this. Usually I think that she'd be bragging about the horrible situation she got me into.
It's funny, I've only known her for less than a week and I feel like I know her so well.
I'm not bound to the bed so that's nice. But they took away my prosthetic legs, that's going to be a weakness that I'll have to watch out for.
I jump when I hear the sound of a door opening and notice three people walking in from across the room. It's Danzo flanked by two ROOT members.
"I see that you're awake," I silently nod. When a member of the foundation is spoken to directly by Danzo it's a big deal, so they're supposed to wait for their right to speak.
So even though hundreds of questions are running through my mind, I silently listen to what he has to say.
"Do you feel that you are ready to begin your training? And I mean by both physically and mentally," I pause, physically I know that I'm ready. But it feels like I just remembered what happened, and I feel terrible about it. I'll have to apologize to Minami...if she hasn't taken my advice, but I think that she either has or should. Especially after that outburst, now she knows that she can leave so she may as well.
I'll deal with it, this training might actually help my mental state, maybe I won't be as pathetic. "Yes, Danzo-sama."
I spot a faint smile on Danzo's face, "very well. Later today you will set out to the Land of Iron where you will learn how to fight with your new prosthetics. It will be difficult, but I believe that a prodigy such as yourself can do it."
The Land of Iron...it should be cold there and it's at least a three days journey. It will be difficult for me to walk, especially with the snow. But I'll do it, and when I get back I'll kick Haku's ass in the chunin exams.
And I'll figure out how to keep Dáku's power in check.
And to all of the people who think that I can't, you're damn wrong.
'TILL NEXT TIME
~0~
A/N: oh my gosh...I never expected to get this far in my story. Thank you guys so much for reading this far and continuing to support me!
This story has been a big part of my life and I've loved writing it so much! I've loved creating Erin's character, I've loved developing this story, I love my readers too!
Now I'm just gonna talk a little bit more about this story and me…
I am not abused, I am actually very lucky and privileged to have the family that I have. Erin's abuse is based on some people's around me experiences, I also made her childhood the way that it is to show that no matter what, somebody can get back up no matter how many times they're knocked down. Although she may have some emotional scars left from her past.
I'll tell you what Erin's story was supposed to be like in the beginning:
Erin wasn't originally supposed to be from our world, in fact, I invented an entire hidden village. The hidden dragon village. This village was supposed to be directly connected to (you guessed it) dragons, as in guarded by them, living alongside them, etc. And a chosen few would get a dragon egg and travel around the world. Erin would have been one of these chosen few, and what somebody does who gets a dragon egg is travel to each of the five great nations and reach at least chunin rank in them. For this to work the hidden dragon village wouldn't be able to participate in any of the fights between the five great nations, well...if somebody was at that moment training at one of the villages they were allowed. But yeah anyways Erin would've shown up and of course been placed on team seven and would've been ridiculously OP and a Mary Sue so...yeah.
Anyways you guys, as I said before I'm going to go back and redo most of this story so you're going to have to wait a little bit before part two. Unless you want to see the better version of this, I hope that you do!
See ya!
